American infrastructure provider Involta is planning to build nearly 40,000 square feet colocation data center near Pittsburgh, its first in Pennsylvania.

According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, the facility will comprise four data halls once complete, and will be able to withstand tornadoes.

“In today’s world, a lot of organizations are getting out of having a data center at their own location, and they’re looking to outsource that capability to a company like ours,” Involta CEO Bruce Lehrman told the publication. “We provide them the opportunity to put their equipment, computers, storage, servers, all of that, in a hardened, secure facility.”

Doctor’s orders

Involta was launched in 2007 following the merger of Technology Resources Company and CoVault Technology. The company is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and currently operates 13 data centers across Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio.

The upcoming facility will be located in Armstrong County near Freeport. It is expected to generate 10 jobs in IT and sales.

Involta has already secured an anchor tenant, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – a $12.8 billion global healthcare company that manages more than 20 hospitals. The UPMC will take over one of the data halls delivered during the first phase of the project, while retail colocation customers will fill up another.

“What we will provide to UPMC is robust power. In this particular location, we will have the utility power, and we will have generators … lots of layers of power, and the facility is secure, made of pre-cast concrete, and can withstand tornadoes and other environmental conditions,” Lehman said.